Steamed Snow Peas with Lemon Zest
Steamed Snow Peas with Lemon Zest is a light, vibrant side dish featuring crisp snow peas steamed to preserve their fresh flavor and bright green color, then finished with fragrant lemon zest. The typical ingredients include snow peas, lemon zest, a touch of oil, and sometimes a pinch of salt or a splash of lemon juice. This dish is a modern, healthy preparation often found in contemporary Asian-inspired or health-conscious Western cuisines.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is very low in carbohydrates, fat, and protein, making it a light, low-calorie side. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin K, and provides dietary fiber and antioxidants, with a rough ballpark of around 50-70 calories per serving.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 45 kcal |
| Protein | 2.5 g |
| Carbs | 7 g |
| Fat | 0.5 g |
| Fiber | 2.5 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 10 mg |
| Vitamin C | 45 mg |
| Vitamin K | 35 mcg |
| Vitamin A | 800 IU |
| Folate | 50 mcg |
| Potassium | 250 mg |
| Manganese | 0.3 mg |
| Iron | 1.5 mg |
| Calcium | 40 mg |
Per 1 cup (160 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, it represents a fusion approach, combining the classic Chinese technique of steaming vegetables to retain nutrients with the bright, aromatic finish of lemon zest common in Mediterranean cooking. Nutritionally, the steaming method minimizes nutrient loss, and the lemon zest not only adds flavor but also boosts the dish's vitamin C content, which can aid in the absorption of plant-based iron from the peas.
